Module 4: Making Sense of the Data
This module teaches you how to analyze the feedback you’ve collected throughout the engagement process. The Interpretation Guide walks you step-by-step through interpretation and sense making of the information collected by street team surveys, empathy maps, emoji wheels and postcards.
The following topics will be covered:
Collecting and transcribing data
Uncovering findings and themes
Generating insights and getting feedback
Interpretation resource
After completing this module, you’ll be able to produce analysis of qualitative data in a structured and systematic way.
+ Collect and transcribe the data
Collect the data
- Gather the engagement tools you’ve collected
- Sort engagement tools by type
- Read through the tools you’ve collected
- Jot down 5-10 key gut reactions to what you’ve reviewed
Transcribe initial insights
- Transcribe (word-for-word) key phrases and quotes onto sticky notes
- Remember: only one phrase or quote per sticky note
- Each type of engagement tool should generate between 30-50 sticky notes
+ Uncover findings and themes
Uncover findings
- Using all the sticky notes you’ve transcribed, create clusters of sticky notes
- Make sure phrases and quotes are clustered by similarities
- After all your sticky notes are clustered, create vertical columns of sub-clusters
- Name each sub-cluster by adding a box around the edges of the title card sticky note
Develop themes
- Use the title card sticky notes from each sub-cluster
- Create new clusters and sub-clusters of title cards, grouping similar sets together
- Use a larger sticky note pad to create Theme names for each cluster of title cards
+ Generate insights and get feedback
Generate insights
- Use the Theme name cards from the last step
- Create new clusters and sub-clusters of Theme cards
- Make connections between the cards in each cluster so that they are grouped by context
Seek feedback
- Report your insights about the community back to your client base and related stakeholders
- Discuss the findings, themes, and insights to learn which ones are more important
- Ask for feedback on your understanding
- Adjust insights as needed